Initial impressions of 2013 Tige Z1 vs my RZR not impressed so far with the surf wake

[WakerideN]

The RZ2/22Ve hull surfs better then any other Tige hull to date, so it should surf great, unless they get to monkeying to much. Hopefully the RZ changes are top deck/cosmetic type changes.

Think your going to see a deeper hull like the G23/25 is my guess.

[ironpeddler]

I was told that a new "version", if that's what you want to call it, will be coming out the end of this year. THey will still make the RZ2 for 1-2 more years and then they will phase it out and it will be replaced by the new boat that we will see towards the end of this year. So for a short time I think that Tige will be selling the RZ2 and the new boat at the same time. Then they will quit making the RZ2 all together. I was also told that the new boat will be more geared towards wake boarding since the Z1 and Z3 and are Tige's new surf boats.

[Matt Garcia]

I was told that a new "version", if that's what you want to call it, will be coming out the end of this year. THey will still make the RZ2 for 1-2 more years and then they will phase it out and it will be replaced by the new boat that we will see towards the end of this year. So for a short time I think that Tige will be selling the RZ2 and the new boat at the same time. Then they will quit making the RZ2 all together. I was also told that the new boat will be more geared towards wake boarding since the Z1 and Z3 and are Tige's new surf boats.

Sounds about right.

[Booms]

I was told that a new "version", if that's what you want to call it, will be coming out the end of this year. THey will still make the RZ2 for 1-2 more years and then they will phase it out and it will be replaced by the new boat that we will see towards the end of this year. So for a short time I think that Tige will be selling the RZ2 and the new boat at the same time. Then they will quit making the RZ2 all together. I was also told that the new boat will be more geared towards wake boarding since the Z1 and Z3 and are Tige's new surf boats.

NOOOOOO, I really want a 22 ft surf boat! So instead of ordering a "new" RZ2 or it's replacement I now need to look at the Z3 with Rag's comp sacs. Darn!

[Duncan]

I was told that a new "version", if that's what you want to call it, will be coming out the end of this year. THey will still make the RZ2 for 1-2 more years and then they will phase it out and it will be replaced by the new boat that we will see towards the end of this year. So for a short time I think that Tige will be selling the RZ2 and the new boat at the same time. Then they will quit making the RZ2 all together. I was also told that the new boat will be more geared towards wake boarding since the Z1 and Z3 and are Tige's new surf boats.

Does not make sense to me. I doubt Tige will not offer a pickle front boat geared to surfing. While the Z3 has a nice bow, I think the pickle fronts are a lot better functionally.

[ironpeddler]

Does not make sense to me. I doubt Tige will not offer a pickle front boat geared to surfing. While the Z3 has a nice bow, I think the pickle fronts are a lot better functionally.

We could make a small wager?? j/k

I agree with you about the pickle-forks. They also look better IMHO.

But this is the information I was given directly from Tige, this was not from a dealer. I was in the process of buying a boat and the information I shared affected my decision as to what model to purchase. It is possible that they could have lied to me about it but that was not the impression I got when speaking to this individual on a few different occasions. I straight up asked him if he was bs'ing me about it. He sounded genuine to me for whatever that's worth to you. I would be pretty dis-appointed if the information I was given was in-correct and will not/would not buy another Tige boat if that ends up being the case.

I have since then bought a Z3 and am very stoked about it. Just wish is would freaking stop raining...

[barry1me]

Day 2 behind the 13 Z1 with Con VX, and a 13 RZ2 w/o con VX. The RZ2 has a much taller surf wake and more push. We spent 3 hours on the Z1 and RZ2 dialing in each one and all 4 of us hands down prefered the wake surf behind the RZ2. I like the looks of the Z1, and the interior but not for its performance. Both boats also had a 343 engine and the RZ2 had much more acceleration. Im trying to confirm what prop was on each boat. As of right now I will probably be getting a RZ2 or the new replacement RZ2.

[Timmy!]

Sounds like you need to measure that Convex VX like ragboy showed how in the other thread. How's the handling comparison? Does the RZ2 feel bigger when driving it?

[Wickedcummins]

If TIge stops making a the pickle fork front end Surf boat it will indeed be the last Tige I purchase! Im already looking into other boats as the new ski centurion looks like it is going to KILL it surfing and wakeboarding.. I want boat that does BOTH killer I dont want a boat I have to buy for either surfing or wakeboarding.. That would be flat out STUPID...

[Wickedcummins]

Day 2 behind the 13 Z1 with Con VX, and a 13 RZ2 w/o con VX. The RZ2 has a much taller surf wake and more push. We spent 3 hours on the Z1 and RZ2 dialing in each one and all 4 of us hands down prefered the wake surf behind the RZ2. I like the looks of the Z1, and the interior but not for its performance. Both boats also had a 343 engine and the RZ2 had much more acceleration. Im trying to confirm what prop was on each boat. As of right now I will probably be getting a RZ2 or the new replacement RZ2.

You should see if your local dealer has a new ski centurion with the ram fill and catz fin and tell us how it its compared.. Im highly considering changing because "our new mystery boat" don't work for me when you got companies like ski centurion that show what you can buy! I dont like to live for hopes and dreams.. But I agree also Ive rode behind a Z3 here in colorado and my RZ2 has a longer and bigger wave.. =)

[talltigeguy]

I was also told that the new boat will be more geared towards wake boarding since the Z1 and Z3 and are Tige's new surf boats.

Day 2 behind the 13 Z1 with Con VX, and a 13 RZ2 w/o con VX. The RZ2 has a much taller surf wake and more push. We spent 3 hours on the Z1 and RZ2 dialing in each one and all 4 of us hands down prefered the wake surf behind the RZ2. I like the looks of the Z1, and the interior but not for its performance.

Is there a lack of product testing going on at Tige? The Z1 is supposed to be the lovechild of the Z3, but it sounds more like the Convex VX makes the wave worse. Shouldn't they have known that the Z1 would not be as capable with the VX on it? Maybe Barry's testing was off the mark, but it sure sounds like they worked on it for hours.

But it isn't like the Z3 cannot have a wakeboard wake. A few people seem to think it is OK to wakeboard behind one.

[barry1me]

Is there a lack of product testing going on at Tige? The Z1 is supposed to be the lovechild of the Z3, but it sounds more like the Convex VX makes the wave worse. Shouldn't they have known that the Z1 would not be as capable with the VX on it? Maybe Barry's testing was off the mark, but it sure sounds like they worked on it for hours.

But it isn't like the Z3 cannot have a wakeboard wake. A few people seem to think it is OK to wakeboard behind one.

I set the Z1 and RZ2 up according to ragboys setup on wake9. We had the list set at 8 and 9 degrees. I have spent 100+ hours in the last two years surfing behind Tiges (RZR, R20, RZ2, Z1, 24), MC, BUs and SANTEs. Im all about trying how to dial in a boat, thats part of the fun it. We tried taps from 1-8 speeds from 9-12mph and everything in between. I WANTED THE Z1 to surf good as I was going to be taking ownership of this boat in the next few days. It kills me cuz I love the look of the boat, and the interior....BUT if cant do what my RZR can do Im not spending the money to upgrade. Im sure if you add the 1000lb fat sac to the rear surf corner it will be better but the point was we were surfing stock or close to stock setups to compare against. Im also spoiled to how the RZ2 can take rollers much better then the Z1. We also noticed that the RZ2 was much less 'tippy' when at cruising speed with peeps not sitting balanced in the boat.

We also went behind a 2013 SANTE 210 today with the NSS and it produced a clean wake, but had no push, very soft, not long....unimpressive. With that being said this boat was typical Nautique top notch quality. I always enjoy driving there boats....Something that interested me and my brother in law is how the 210 weighs 3900lbs, the Z1 weighs 4285 and the both had PCM 343 engines yet the the power difference was quite different. The 210 rocketed up to speed where as the Z1 was very lathargic. I cant speak to which prop either boat was running but the 210 was faster on plane and 0-30 then my RZR is with the 343. I have both Tige and Nautique dealers looking up the prop information for me. Wake surf wise the 210 is nothing like the G23 I was behind yesterday. The G23 surfed great considering all stock and every evenly seated in the boat.

[ragboy]

Barry, the Z1 with VX IMHO will make a better surf wake than the RZ2, and much more adjustable. You are just unfortunately seeing the result of the poorly installed VX. I hope you get a chance to see it installed properly.

As far as the new RZ2 goes...

It is true that they are focusing the RZ line to be "wakeboard first" and the Z line to be "surf first". But they are not looking to have either be crap at the other. My understanding is that the RZ2 is being designed to be a great WB boat. Then customize a VX to shape a good surf wake, without sacrificing the great wakeboard wake. I have seen a prototype, the hull is completely different from the rub rail down. It should make all of the wakeboarders happy. They want the RZ2 to be as great a wakeboard boat as the Z3 is at surfing. I think that this is great for both camps. Less compromise for one sport or the other.

I do know they plan on having us surf the RZ2 when the time comes, and we will give feedback.

As far as the pickle fork on the surf boat, I think it makes sense for the surf boats to be like the Z3/Z1, they are dryer more practical for turning around with huge surf waves, IMHO. I like both, I like the bigger bow, but I love how dry the Z3 stays when surfing. This is our second season on the Z3, we have 10 people easy on a regular basis in our boat. We have never had a complaint or wished we had a bigger bow, after now 800 hours? Anyway, thats just my take.

As far as the Z3 wakeboard wake, we took out Raquel Hoffman and she dug it. On her first run ever on it, she landed her biggest tricks which surprised her parents. I don't really have much more experience with the wakeboard wake though.

[barry1me]

Barry, the Z1 with VX IMHO will make a better surf wake than the RZ2, and much more adjustable. You are just unfortunately seeing the result of the poorly installed VX. I hope you get a chance to see it installed properly.

As far as the new RZ2 goes...

It is true that they are focusing the RZ line to be "wakeboard first" and the Z line to be "surf first". But they are not looking to have either be crap at the other. My understanding is that the RZ2 is being designed to be a great WB boat. Then customize a VX to shape a good surf wake, without sacrificing the great wakeboard wake. I have seen a prototype, the hull is completely different from the rub rail down. It should make all of the wakeboarders happy. They want the RZ2 to be as great a wakeboard boat as the Z3 is at surfing. I think that this is great for both camps. Less compromise for one sport or the other.

I do know they plan on having us surf the RZ2 when the time comes, and we will give feedback.

As far as the pickle fork on the surf boat, I think it makes sense for the surf boats to be like the Z3/Z1, they are dryer more practical for turning around with huge surf waves, IMHO. I like both, I like the bigger bow, but I love how dry the Z3 stays when surfing. This is our second season on the Z3, we have 10 people easy on a regular basis in our boat. We have never had a complaint or wished we had a bigger bow, after now 800 hours? Anyway, thats just my take.

As far as the Z3 wakeboard wake, we took out Raquel Hoffman and she dug it. On her first run ever on it, she landed her biggest tricks which surprised her parents. I don't really have much more experience with the wakeboard wake though.

Good info, and thanks for all the insight you provide to all of us. You are one of the main reasons I have bought a Tige in the first place. Im getting to the point where Im loosing my patience with Tige. I find this to be another example of Tige letting me and several customers down again with this convex VX issue. My tige dealer does not sell a lot of Tiges and I feel like each boat they get always has 'issues'. I have never seen so many problems with boats like the ones my dealer gets. It almost concerns me that they get the blem boats from Tige. I have personally seen 4 tiges in the past month come from my dealer with several quality/design issues...

On another note....could this convex VX plate on the Z1 be the reason that it was so much more underpowered then the RZ2 we took out? Or could this affect the 'tippiness' when cruising?

[ragboy]

I can't speak to the quality issues so much. If they have problems with boats to dealers, that def needs to be addressed. I can tell you that we put over 400 hours on our RZ2, and are on about 800 hours on our Z3 and the RZ2 was like new when we were done and the Z3 still runs great. We have had some wear and tear issues that seem reasonable to me for the amount of hours and the fact that this boat has been trailered across country once last year and now another this year. The events take a toll and it keeps going. We had to change a steering cable around 500 hours, replace a front ballast pump, our throttle assembly is sticking a bit now and we have a new one to replace. We had 2 warranty issues, a hard tank with a bad weld from the manufacturer and a PCM recall on a cylinder head. That's been it.

We just sold our 24Ve with 650 hours to a family that is on our lake and we surf with regularly, and they love it, no problems there other than oil and maintenance.

Tige has been doing well lately and have increased production and there may be some bumps along the way, but I have nothing to do with that, and in my experience, they make it right.

Regarding the Z1, I don't remember it being tippy or feeling underpowered, I think it could definitely use a high altitude prop like the 1235 if you use a lot of weight, but I will check when we get up there to test in a week. The 24Ve was very weight sensitive, and so was the RZ2, I always felt the Z3 was much more stable than those, IMHO. The new RZ2 will DEF be less tippy and more stable if they continue with the direction I saw. Surf boats are always going to be a bit more tippy because most great surf boats have more deadrise (deep v) than a wakeboard boat. The Z1 has the full 102 inch beam like the Z3. Anyway, I will check when I get in one, and I will take video from every angle of the surf wave with the correct VX on it. I am very excited to do this on the Z1, RJ and my wife think I am nuts, but I have thought about moving into a Z1 from the Z3. Only reason I can't, is due to the loss of space and how much hosting we do. I think that boat with the right VX can tow a competition and surf with the best of them, but more on that in a week or so.

One more thing, even with the wrong VX on the Z1, its still very good but you have to adjust the weight a bit. RJ and Dennis rode one at the West Coast Open, kwood's boat. So REALLY looking forward to it with the VX right.